PITCHER PERFECT: Portland Pirates take on the Portland Royals at Walker Stadium. - IMAGE: nataliebehring.com
If the smell of pine tar turns your crank, if you find the crack of a bat as audibly satisfying as a Typhoon album, or if you just like soaking up sun, then Northwest Independent Baseball League games are the place to be. The NWIBL is a competitive wood-bat league that operates like a minor-league system, complete with 17 teams in two divisions, a midseason all-star game, home-run derby and postseason playoffs. Ever since Timbers owner Merritt Paulson chucked the Portland Beavers to Tucson, Ariz., NWIBL has filled the void for local baseball fanatics.
It’s easy to root for NWIBL teams because the players play hard, get dirty and hit homers like the pros. Over 200 NWIBL games are scheduled throughout the summer weeks at Portland’s nicest public baseball fields, and admission is free for all games played at Walker Stadium in Lents Park (Southeast 92nd Avenue and Holgate Street) and Sckavone Stadium at Westmoreland Park (Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard and Nehalem Street). This family outing is a good way to show kids that the measure of a great baseball player is not the salary, but the way you play the game. This is blue-collar baseball, with teams consisting of college players, ex-pros, and average Joes who love to grind it out on the diamond. When you see a muddy, bloody player walk off the field and gingerly climb into his truck to go home and get up for work the next morning, you know he’s in it for the love of the game, not the glory.
The NWIBL season is
already under way and runs through late August, with playoffs
culminating in a championship game (the Portland Pirates are this year’s
defending champs).
READ MORE: nwibl.org for the league schedule and information about sponsoring a NWIBL team (hint-hint, wink-wink).
Summer Guide 2011
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Hey Whitney, my name is Max Brumm and I'm the first candidate to file for mayor of Portland. I would like to get in touch with you, regarding you article. I'm playing in that summer league and baseball/parks are one of my main plateform ideas! If you can please email me back at maxbrumm@max4mayor.com I have alot to say about baseball in Portland!
Kind Regards,
Max Brumm
Thanks for the kind words we are growing and this helps get the word out that baseball is still being played here in Portland. We would have more night games if the lights at Sckavone Stadium were working. NWIBL.org
Thanks for the kind words we are growing and this helps get the word out that baseball is still being played here in Portland. We would have more night games if the lights at Sckavone Stadium were working. NWIBL.org
The story on the light situation at Sckavone is that it will take an extensive wiring and equipment revamp and the Portland Parks department maintains that there isn't room in the budget. My feeling is that this is just another example of how far Merritt P and "The Mayor" ie. City counsel have influenced the downfall of baseball in Portland.
Moms and Dads take your kids to the next best thing and see an NWIBL game this summer.